Blocked field goal propels Bobcats to victory

Strong tackling was a trademark of the Estes Park defense in their home victory over Arvada High School on Aug. 31. (Nic Wackerly / Estes Park Trail-Gazette)

With only a few seconds left on the clock, Arvada High School lined up to kick a game winning 23 yard field goal against Estes Park High School. The Bobcats penetrated the Arvada line and blocked the kick to preserve an 8-6 win and move to 1-0 on the new season.

Arvada received the opening kickoff and both teams brought the physical play. After getting into the red zone, Arvada decided to go for all six points on fourth down. The Bobcats defense flushed the quarterback out of the pocket and forced an errant pass and a turnover on downs. Estes Park did not capitalize on their first attempt on offense, going three-and-out.

The offense capitalized on a few big passing plays to set up their score in the second quarter. (Nic Wackerly / Estes Park Trail-Gazette)

The second series for the Estes Park defense produced more positive results. They forced a punt and a penalty gave the Bobcat offense prime starting position at midfield. Senior running back Dennis Campos had the first big gain of the season and sophomore quarterback JD McCown followed with a run for a first down. The last play of the first quarter resulted in a fumbled snap and loss of yards for Estes Park, but coming out of the break the team decided to go for it on fourth down. McCown looked deep for a receiver, but the pass was intercepted and Arvada started their next drive deep in their own territory. Junior linebacker Aaron Acosta delivered a big stop for the Bobcats and they forced a three-and-out from Arvada.

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Estes Park's defense gave the team great field position on their next drive. The offense started at midfield and used a 30 yard pass and catch to get into scoring position. However, a holding penalty forced Estes Park into a fourth and 13 from the Arvada 28. Head Coach Tom Creech and the Bobcats went for the first down and converted with a 20 yard pass play. Now in the red zone, McCown found sophomore Cole Wallace for the score. McCown converted again on the two-point play to senior Tucker Johnson and Estes Park lead 8-0.

The Estes Park High School varsity football team utilized their physical defense to stymie Arvada High School in the opening game of the season, resulting in an 8-6 victory at home for the Bobcats. (Nic Wackerly / Estes Park Trail-Gazette)

The score remained 8-0 as the Bobcats defense played well and held the lead into halftime. Arvada used their first drive of the third quarter to go the length of the field for a score, but the defense remained strong on the two point conversion and preserved the Bobcat lead, 8-6.

With six minutes left in the game, Estes Park looked primed for a long drive to run out the clock. Wallace ran for a first down, but it was called back on an illegal shift. Estes Park could not convert the ensuing third down and punted to Arvada.

It was a physical game from both teams as the Bobcats used their defense to limit the production of Arvada to only six points. (Nic Wackerly / Estes Park Trail-Gazette)

For the final drive of the game, Arvada started at their 47 yard line and had three-and-a-half minutes on the clock. A deep throw caught Estes Park and forced a pass interference penalty on the defense. Arvada was now at Estes Park's 24 yard line and had a minute to score. The Bobcat defense refused to give in and Arvada spiked the ball on the five yard line, allowing for a game winning field goal attempt with five seconds left. Senior lineman Porter Florence and multiple other Bobcats broke through the Arvada line and got their hands up to block the kick and preserve the win for Estes Park.

"I can't explain how happy we are, how proud we are," Florence said, who got his hand on the kick at the end of the game. "This is the benchmark."

The Bobcats showed their football instincts with the final play of the game, which was not a situation the team practiced.

"We had not practiced a blocked kick all year," Coach Creech said. "The kids just did a great job, their instincts kicked in. I am proud of all of them. They played hard and dug deep."

The players were quick to heap praise on their teammates after earning the victory to start the season.

"A lot of young guys stepped up, Porter [Florence] came through, it was a great job by the whole team tonight," Johnson said.

An offseason of hard work seemed to pay off as the Bobcats blocked the kick to start the season 1-0.

"I'm so excited, we have been working so hard for the weeks leading up to this," senior Bert Chrastil said after the game. "I'm just so proud of everyone."

Pride in the team and the work put in to start the season was a communal feeling for the Estes Park players.

"I was so hyped, so proud of my team, it was awesome," Campos said.

The coaching staff echoed the players feelings of the victory being an earned one and the result of a whole team effort.

"Our kids are pretty tough, they play hard and when someone else is called upon to get in there they do a nice job of stepping up," Creech said. "It was just a team win, that is all I can say."

For the Bobcats, an opening game win can be a building block for the rest of the season.

"I feel like we are really going to build off of this," Chrastil said.

The team is already looking forward to getting back to work and preparing for their first road game of the season, when they travel on Sept. 7 to face Middle Park.

"A little celebrating, but come Monday, it is right back to work," Johnson said.

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